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September harvest at the Giving Garden at Coogan Farm
Seed Library at Wheeler Library
Tomato Hornworm damage
The ECCGA offers educational and financial resources to groups and individuals wishing to start a community garden. We work with schools, non-profits, giving gardens, and community groups.
 Just PickedJust Picked with La Belle Aurora, Chef Dawn. We were so grateful to have Chef Dawn share her expertise in preparing fresh ravioli for the attendees. |  Zephry SquashZephry purchased from Adesa Farm in North Stonington is a yellow squash rich in vitamins A and C, potassium and high in fiber. |
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 CarrotsCarrots from Hunts Brook Farm in Quaker Hill, CT: Carrots are rich in beta carotene, potassium, fiber and antioxidants. Read more about carrots nutrition on Healthline.com |  KaleWehpittituck Farm in Stonington, CT is one of the local farms ECCGA purchases from for the weekly Summer CSA. Kale is one of the most nutritious leafy greens, rich in antioxidants, Vitamin C, Vitamin K and beta-carotene. |
 Whittle's Corn on the CobCorn purchased from Whittle's Willow Spring Farm in Mystic. Corn is a source of B-vitamins and potassium. |  Just PickedJust Picked a Groton Parks and Recreation program at Thrive 55+ is a delightful and informative program using fresh nutrient dense vegetables from local farms. |
 Swiss ChardSwiss Chard bought from Wehpittituck Farm in Stonington. Rich in vitamins and minerals, supporting bone, heart, and eye health. |  Cucumbers from Hunts Brook FarmCucumbers are full of water, even so they are good source of potassium, Vitamin K and Vitamin C. Cucumbers from Quaker Hill, CT are grown at Hunts Brook Farm. |
 BeetsBeets with greens from Hunts Brook Farm in Quaker Hill, CT. Beets with Greens nutrient-rich in potassium, and folate (B9). They also provide iron and vitamin C. Happy eating. |  DonationsScroll down to the donate section below for more information. |
 Muir Lettuce from Daily Market FarmThe delicious and nutritious lettuce was purchased from The Daily Market Farm in Waterford, CT. Then donated to St. Vincent DePaul Place in Norwich, for guests dining at the meal center. |  Carnivale Acorn SquashHimmelstein Farm in Lebanon, CT grows many varieties of winter squash. The farm delivers its squash to Fiddlehead's Food Co-op in New London, CT, where ECCGA purchases many vegetables for its Food Justice Program. The colorful, nutritious squash was then donated to The Bodega Food Pantry and the New London Community Meal Center for their guests. |
 Summer Crisp LettuceThe Daily Market grows many varieties of lettuce in the Spring and Fall. Interesting note about lettuce nutrition Leaf Lettuce is loaded with Vitamin K. Find more information about 5 different types of lettuce in the link. |  Raised BedsECCGA supplies the lumber, soil, and seedlings for raised bed gardens in New London County. These raised beds were a collaboration with a Grasso Technical High School student, as part of his senior project. |
 RadishesThe Daily Market in Waterford, CT grew these Breakfast radishes. Radish has plenty of vitamin C |  OnionsOnions purchased from local Adesa` Farm in North Stonington, CT were part the CSA bags. Onions are rich in potassium and folate (B6) |
 ZucchiniZucchini from Wehpittituck Farm in Stonington, CT. Zucchini a favorite summer squash was used to make delicious bread in a Just Picked cooking demonstration. The Community Shared Agriculture bags gave everyone large zucchini for them to make the recipe at home. |
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
CRAIG FLOYD GIVING GARDEN
AT COOGAN FARM
DENISON PEQUOTSEPOS NATURE CENTER
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EAST LYME
GIVING GARDEN
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About
Eastern CT Community Gardens Association
How ECCGA Started
ECCGA is a non-profit organization that helps organizations and residents build raised beds for community gardens in order to grow fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables for consumption. All materials, plants, fencing and seeds we use to help establish the gardens are either donated or purchased through grant funding. We support environmentally sound practices, such as rain barrel collection for water, composting, soil testing, soil amendments and gleaning. By encouraging small community gardens, we educate the public on health issues and their relationship to food.
Mission "To directly educate and empower community gardeners in Eastern CT to create lasting and sustainable solutions for increasing food security"
How ECCGA Started
In 2008, Dave Fairman, Community Activist, learned from Homeland Security that residents of Eastern Connecticut had only a three day supply of food available to them at any given time. Eastern Connecticut Community Gardens Association (ECCGA) was subsequently established in 2011 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit to continue the Community Garden movement and to act as an educational catalyst for the planning, development and harvesting of organic fruits, vegetables, spices and herbs from Community Gardens. ECCGA works with existing organizations, schools and neighborhoods to establish new gardens to feed local residents and to glean unharvested produce for distribution to local food banks. Over 100 Community Gardens have been started in Eastern Connecticut.
Our Values
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We believe that bountiful amounts of affordable, healthy food can and should be grown in and around Eastern Connecticut using simple, environmentally appropriate technology and renewable resources. We value sustainable growing practices as essential to our responsible participation in the restoration and preservation of our ecosystem.
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We value learning through growing food, a process rooted in observation, reflection, and action, that deepens our understanding of the world around us and strengthens our capacity for problem solving.
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We believe that when people work together to grow food and re-connect with the land, communities and families grow strong, hopeful, confident and healthy.
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We value local knowledge and experience, and community dialogue. We believe that through collaboration we overcome barriers to sharing power and resources with community members and partner organizations to nurture healthy, powerful communities.
DONATIONS
Want to contribute to our small but mighty efforts you can make a donation by mail or online
Make checks payable to ECCGA
Mail to
ECCGA
121 Pequot Avenue
New London, CT 06320
Our Board Members
Marcia Benvenuti, Waterford - President
Mike Herod, Groton
Diana Hunt, North Stonington
Tomi Stanley, Groton
ECCGA Co-Directors
Eunice Sutphen - Director of Outreach
Merrijo Logan - Executive Director
Founder and President Emeritus
Dave Fairman
Craig Floyd - Advisor​
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Ledyard Gardens
Waterford Elementary School Garden to Cafeteria
Husky Pantry Gardens
Acorn Squash Donation to NL Bodega Food Pantry
Truly appreciate the guest presenters, Thrive 55+ volunteers, Tomi Stanley, all of the participating Farmers and Fiddleheads staff for making this year's program successful.
Community Shared Agriculture known as a CSA and Just Picked cooking demonstration program hosted at Thrive 55+ in Groton.
Truly appreciate the guest presenters, Thrive 55+ volunteers, Tomi Stanley, all of the participating Farmers and Fiddleheads staff for making this year's program successful.